Asher As we headed back to Lycone, I turned to Jamie, who was still pacing the edge of the clearing, muttering curses under his breath. His frustration mirrored my own, but I couldn’t let him act on it. Not yet. “Jamie,” I called, my tone firm. He stopped and looked at me, his face hard with anger. “What?” “You can’t tell anyone about this.” He blinked, stunned. “What? Asher, are you serious? We’re talking about Jude—your father! A wizard who has been lying to us this whole time! How are we supposed to just sit on that?” I stepped closer, lowering my voice. “Because we don’t know how far this goes. If we start spreading this around, it could blow up in our faces. Jude’s been planning this for years. We don’t even know who’s working with him or who might be compromised.” Jamie hesitated, running a hand through his hair. “But Corey… Nina… Amara… Malia. They deserve to know. They’ve fought for you, Asher. They’re your pack. Don’t you trust them?” “It’s not about trust,” I
AsherThe nightmare came again. Malia stood before me, her eyes filled with something I couldn’t place—was it pity? Regret? Betrayal? The words she spoke were muffled, like they were being dragged through water, but I could feel their weight. And then, without warning, she turned her back on me, walking away into the shadows. “No!” I jolted awake, my body drenched in sweat, my heart pounding in my chest. The room was still, save for the soft rustle of Malia’s breathing beside me. Her chest rose and fell with a rhythm that should have been comforting, but tonight, it wasn’t. Tonight, everything felt wrong. I wiped my face, trying to shake the nightmare from my mind, but it clung to me like a second skin. I glanced at Malia, her features serene, completely unaware of the storm raging inside me. I couldn’t stay here. Not like this. Quietly, I slipped out of bed, grabbing a robe and tying it loosely around me. The cool air of the hallway greeted me as I made my way toward the
AsherI was still thinking about what the priest said, and he also was very quiet—it seems he wanted me to think clearly about my decision, so the temple was quiet, save for the soft crackle of the candles burning around the altar. I exhaled deeply, my breath breaking the stillness, and ran a hand through my hair. The priest’s words lingered in my mind, their weight pressing against my chest. For a moment, I let my thoughts drift back to my parents. Memories surfaced, though they were fragmented and fleeting—snapshots of a time that now felt like a distant dream. They were never affectionate with each other. My father, Ian, always seemed distracted, his focus somewhere else, his smiles rare and fleeting. My mother, Brooke, was cold, calculating. She played her role as Luna well, but there was always something off about her warmth—it never felt real. The moments they spent together were more like business transactions than the bond of mates. As a child, I hadn’t questioned it. But
Asher The knock on my office door came just as I was summoning the council. My pulse was still hammering after the report of the Sky Pack deaths. The sheer brutality described in the messenger’s words had left me cold, and now, with the council scattered across the packs, I was trying to get them together fast enough to address the chaos.“Come in,” I said, my voice sharper than I intended.The door opened, and I immediately recognized the twin Alpha heirs of Sky Pack. Darian and Ryker Glenn—Jet’s sons, the next in line to rule the most politically aggressive pack in the kingdom. Their presence wasn’t a good sign. Darian stepped in first, his sharp blue eyes cutting through the tension in the room like a knife. His posture was perfectly composed, every movement deliberate, as if he was constantly weighing the gravity of his own existence. His neatly groomed beard and tailored leather jacket gave him the appearance of someone who had already assumed the throne, even if it technically
Asher I leaned back in my chair, observing him carefully. Ryker’s jaw tensed, and he seemed to struggle to keep his gaze from drifting back to her. It was like he couldn’t help himself, no matter how hard he tried to appear nonchalant. Darian, on the other hand, didn’t even glance at her. He stayed focused on the conversation we’d just been having, as if Malia’s presence didn’t faze him in the slightest. “Malia,” I said, my tone sharper now, cutting through the tension. “Is there something you need?” She seemed to notice Ryker’s stare then, her posture stiffening slightly as her eyes flicked toward him. “I just came to check if you needed anything before your meeting,” she said, her voice steady but quieter than usual. “I’m fine,” I replied, my gaze locked on Ryker. He wasn’t even trying to be subtle anymore. His eyes darted to Malia’s hands, her face, then quickly away as if realizing he’d been caught. Darian finally noticed and sighed, muttering under his breath. “R
AsherThe next morning came far too soon. The golden rays of dawn filtered through the heavy curtains of my room, illuminating the stillness that followed the chaos of recent days. I stirred, feeling the comforting weight of Malia’s arm draped over me. For the first time in a long while, I felt at peace.That peace, however, was short-lived. A sharp knock at the door jolted me awake. Malia groaned softly but didn’t stir. I carefully untangled myself from her and slipped out of bed, pulling on a shirt as the knocking persisted. Whoever it was, they were relentless.I opened the door to find the priest standing there, his expression unusually grim. “Asher,” he said without preamble, “we need to talk.”I stepped out into the hallway, closing the door behind me to avoid waking Malia. “What is it?” I asked, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. “This better be important.”“It is,” the priest replied, his voice low and heavy. “I sought the moon goddess for guidance last night, as we discussed.”“
AsherLater that day, after much deliberation, I found myself back in the priest’s quarters. The weight of his earlier words hadn’t left me, and though I felt a flicker of determination to face the moon goddess and make things right, I needed to know more. “I’ll do it,” I said finally, meeting the priest’s gaze with firm resolve. “I’ll go to her.”The priest’s expression softened into something almost like pride, but his next words caught me off guard. “You cannot go immediately, Asher. The gateway to the moon goddess’s realm only opens once every three months. Until then, you must wait.”I frowned. “Three months? Are you serious? You just told me she’s displeased with me. How am I supposed to sit on that for months?”“This is not a matter of impatience,” he said calmly. “Preparation is key. The journey to her realm is not like any physical travel you’ve ever done. It is spiritual, dangerous. You must be physically strong, but also mentally and emotionally prepared. If you go to her
Asher It was well past midnight by the time I finally stepped into my room. My body ached from the endless meeting with the council and various pack leaders. Every bone in me screamed for rest, but my mind wouldn’t let up. I was always thinking ahead—plans, threats, alliances. And now, with Malia on my mind, my thoughts were heavier than ever. The room was dark except for the faint glow of the moonlight filtering through the curtains. I sighed, loosening the collar of my shirt as I moved toward the bed. That’s when I saw her—Malia.She was thrashing, tangled in the sheets, her body drenched in sweat. Her breaths came out in ragged gasps, and soft whimpers escaped her lips. I froze, my pulse spiking. "Malia?" I called gently, stepping closer.She didn’t respond, still caught in the grips of whatever nightmare was tormenting her. Her hands clenched into fists, nails digging into her palms as her body trembled violently. My stomach twisted at the sight. I had seen warriors broken by f
MaliaRonin’s voice was sharp, cutting through the tension like a blade.“What the hell is this?”I didn’t answer right away.Because I didn’t know what to say.There were five unconscious men laying around me. There was blood on my hands. And Ronin and Corey were staring at me like I had just walked out of a massacre.There was no way I could explain this away.I tried to think of something—anything—but my mind was blank.A long, agonizing silence stretched between us.Then—I felt a spark. Not in my mind. Not in my chest. But on my tooth.I felt it—a tiny shock against the gem Jude had put there.And suddenly, the words came out.I lied.“I—I saw someone coming down here,” I said, my voice steady in a way that startled even me. “I was curious. I wanted to see what they were doing.”Ronin's eyes narrowed. “And that led to five guards unconscious at your feet?”I nodded. “I went down, but before I could even figure out what was happening, the guards stopped me. They accused me of lett
MaliaI didn’t wait for Nina to say anything else.She had already played enough games, and I wasn’t in the mood for another round of her mind tricks.I turned on my heel and walked away, fuming.Behind me, Nina hesitated for half a second before I heard her footsteps fade.She was smart enough to know that I didn't want to be followed.But just as I stepped into the dimly lit corridor leading out of the basement, I heard a sharp, authoritative voice.“Hey! Stop right there!”I cursed under my breath and spun around.Five men stood between me and freedom, their bodies tense, their hands already moving toward their weapons.Guards.Shit!One of them stepped forward, narrowing his eyes at me.“What are you doing down here?”I forced my expression into one of confusion, schooling my features into something innocent.“I—uh—I got lost?”His eyes darkened. “Lost?”“Yes,” I said quickly, nodding. “I was looking for the storeroom, and I must have taken a wrong turn. I didn’t mean to—”“Bullsh
MaliaI froze.Asher was awake. And he was looking right at me.His dull, golden eyes locked onto mine, flickering with something raw—hope, desperation, disbelief. For a moment, he simply stared, his chest rising and falling with uneven breaths. Then, as if afraid I would disappear if he didn’t move fast enough, he crawled toward me.His frail hands dragged against the cold, filthy floor, scraping against the stone. His once-mighty frame, now nothing but skin and bones, trembled with the effort. He barely spared a glance at the rotting food beside him as he reached for me.His fingers, dirty and trembling, brushed against my hand.I flinched.It was instinctual, but it was enough.Asher stilled, his expression crumbling. His hands dropped to his sides, and his shoulders sagged like the weight of the world had just crashed down on him.“I know,” he whispered, his voice raspy and broken. “I know I’m a monster.”I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.He swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple
MaliaI had been so lost in thought that I didn't realise that Nina was still talking to me. I listened to her last words and figured out something to say in response, so I exhaled, trying to steady myself before speaking. "Nina… I heard that the woman who accused Corey of assault wasn’t even real. She was a witch. She used Malia's image to frame him."Nina's breath hitched, and her expression hardened. She nodded slowly. "I know." Her voice was quiet but firm.I hesitated. "I also heard that while that was happening, the real Malia was captured."She sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Yeah, I know that too."The silence stretched between us for a moment, filled only by Asher’s slow, shallow breathing from the other side of the bars.Then, Nina exhaled sharply, pressing her fingers against her temples. "Asher was wrong to have killed Corey," she admitted, shaking her head. "So wrong. I mean, I get it—he thought Malia was attacked, and he reacted. But…" She looked away, as if st
MaliaI shook my head. "I don’t think it’s safe."Nina’s brow furrowed, a delicate crease forming between her eyes. "You don’t think what’s safe?" Her voice held a hint of impatience, a flicker of the urgency that had driven us here."Me going in there," I clarified, the words rasping out. I crossed my arms, a defensive posture that mirrored the turmoil churning within me. "I’m not exactly great at sneaking in and out of places, and if I get caught, it could ruin everything. You should go alone." My gaze flickered towards the heavy, iron-bound door at the end of the corridor, a dark maw leading into the depths of the school's underbelly.For a moment, Nina looked like she wanted to argue, her lips tightening into a thin line. I could see the protest forming on her tongue, the logical counterpoints she was about to unleash. But then, she sighed, a long, drawn-out exhale that spoke of reluctant acceptance. She nodded, the motion sharp and decisive. "Fine. I’ll do it myself."That shoul
MaliaAs I stepped out of Ronin’s office, the air outside felt lighter, but my mind was anything but. My thoughts churned, replaying the conversation over and over.Why hadn’t I corrected Jude when he got my age wrong? It should’ve been an easy fix, something I could have said in the moment without any real consequence. And yet, I hadn’t. I guess I was just so overwhelmed and charged up after that kiss with Ronin that I also momentarily forgot that Lia isn't really seventeen. But in my case it's understandable that I would forget, after all, I'm not the mastermind behind the plan. What was Jude's excuse?But then, I came to the realization that Jude wasn’t the type to make mistakes. Not with something as important as that.He sat me down and drilled every possible detail about Lia into my head, making sure I was ready to live as her without suspicion. But despite all of that, he had conveniently made an error about my age?I scoffed under my breath.No. That wasn’t a mistake.Jude mu
MaliaI leaned back in my chair, watching Ronin through narrowed eyes. His hands were still pressed together on the desk, fingers interlocked, but I could see the tension in them—the slight twitch of his thumb, the way his knuckles had turned just a shade paler.He was angry.Fine. So was I.“Why are you acting so reckless?” he asked suddenly, his voice low but sharp.I raised an eyebrow. “Reckless?”“Yes.” He leaned forward slightly, his silver eyes locking onto mine. “I thought you were a gentle girl. That was what I liked most about you.”For a second, I just stared at him. Liked? Past tense?A small, bitter laugh escaped me. “I am gentle, Ronin.” I tilted my head. “But if that was all there was to me, I’d be a boring, one-dimensional person.” I let my lips curl into a smirk. “Which I’m not.”Ronin’s jaw tightened. He exhaled through his nose, as if trying to calm himself, but his fingers flexed against the desk like he was fighting the urge to snap it in half.“The real issue,” I
MaliaI took a deep breath, forcing myself to shake off the unease from my conversation with the so-called spy. There were more important things to focus on—like pretending to be Lia and surviving another school day without slipping up.Pushing the classroom door open, I barely took two steps inside before freezing.Ronin was standing at the front of the room.The entire class turned to look at me, eyes filled with barely concealed amusement. A few students snickered, others whispered behind their hands, and instantly, I knew something was wrong.Swallowing my irritation, I forced my expression into indifference. “Good morning, Alpha Ronin,” I said stiffly, before turning to the teacher. “Good morning, Miss Harper.”Miss Harper gave me a tight-lipped nod, her discomfort clear. But Ronin? He didn’t even glance my way. He stood there, focused on the rest of the class, like I didn’t exist.I bit the inside of my cheek, forcing myself to keep walking. My footsteps felt too loud as I went
MaliaThe boy leaned back against the desk, a smirk playing on his lips. “Alright, let’s see how well you really know Asher and his friends.”I could hear it in his thoughts—he expected me to stumble. He thought I was bluffing, that I was another opportunist trying to use Asher’s downfall for my own gain.I smiled, crossing my arms. “I won’t just answer questions about Asher—I’ll answer anything you want about his friends, too. Amara, Nina, Corey, Jamie… take your pick.”His smirk widened. He thought he had me right where he wanted me. “Alright then,” he said, eyes gleaming. “What’s the relationship status of each of Asher’s friends?”I knew exactly what he was trying to do—trip me up with details only a true insider would know. But if he thought I’d hesitate, he was dead wrong.“Nina,” I started, “was Asher’s childhood friend. They grew up together, always close, though not in a romantic way.” I tilted my head. “She cared for him deeply, but Asher never saw her that way. Eventually,